Say no to T.O.

So, I got the news that Terrell Owens was cut by the Cowboys last night … not from ESPN or the evening news, but in an email from a Raiders fan who saw the stunner before I did.

“GOD FORBID!” the email screamed in all-caps. “FORGET T.O.!”

Boy, Raider Nation, tell us how you really feel.

And so began the first of several pleas from Raider fans who already fear where this one’s headed.

Everyone knows Raiders owner Al Davis loves a prize talent, and evenat age 35, Owens is a prize on the field. A 1,000-yard receiver last season, he could instantly make the Raiders’ offense a potent passing attack.

In fact, he’d be their most talented wide receiver since … well, Randy Moss, and as all those all-caps emailers out there already know, therein lies the rub.

Moss was a Pro Bowl player with major name recognition when he came to the Raiders, just as Owens would be. But he was a moody, petulant malcontent, just like Owens. Moss was at least liked by teammates and kept his complaints to management, unlike Owens, who is a locker room killer and quarterback under-bus-thrower. Just ask Jeff Garcia, Donovin (I mean Donavan) McNabb and Tony Romo.

Do the Raiders really want this for JaMarcus Russell?

If Davis is making the call, absolutely yes — at the right price. He wants the deep ball to get back in the game plan, one reason he brought in Ted Tollner as the passing game coordinator. Chemistry means nothing to Davis, he once said, and he has expressed some serious seller’s remorse dropping Moss — and that was after he quit on the team, forced a trade and set NFL record in New England when he tried again, thus proving he wasn’t trying in Oakland. Remember his “bad mood” excuse for dropped balls? And Davis still wishes he kept him.

If new coach Tom Cable gets a say, absolutely positively no way. He’s doing all he can to flush the locker room of problem childs (better known as children … got to love that Fresno State education). Owens always gets off to a great start in his new destinations, and would probably get enough balls thrown his way, but when the losses pile up? Owens explodes on ESPN in 3, 2, 1 … Just imagine, by Week 6, he’ll be accusing Russell of favoring tight end Zach Miller because they were drafted together. Or accuse Russell of, you know, not being seen with a girlfriend. Whatever.

The Raiders have been completely splash-free since free agency started last week and have no intention of throwing out big money to outsiders as they did last year. Let’s see if Davis can stick to the plan now that T.O. is there for the babysitting.

As for you all-cappers out there, hope the Redskins or Giants make this easy on you and sign T.O. to big-money for themselves.

From the And Another Thing department: The Raiders (I mean Cowboys) also released former Pro Bowl safety Roy Williams, who will also be linked as a potential Raider soon enough.

Williams is someone who racks up tackles against the run but is a major liability in pass coverage. You know, like Gibril Wilson only older and with less in the tank. And the Raiders just cut Wilson.

So, no, don’t expect this one to happen. Which means it’ll probably happen. How’s that for hedging my bet?

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By the way, fans weren’t the only ones surprised to see Wilson released. Several teammates have said privately — because with Cable in charge with a quick trigger finger, this is no time to complain in the papers or computer screens — they don’t get the move.

Sure, no one can name two of his 129 tackles because there just wasn’t much bang or impact in the bunch, but he did a lot better than any other recent safety in these parts. As one guy put it, how could Wilson, who at least produced on the field, be fired and Javon Walker still have a job?

An educated guess says it was his surly attitude and outspokeness when things got bad.

Barnes update: The Raiders are continuing negotiations with Jaguars left tackle Khalif Barnes, and are hopeful a deal can be done today, according to a source familiar with the talks.

(Update: talks are ongoing, but it could take awhile).

Look for an update, and a refreshed list of best-availables out there, this afternoon.